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To: SAMWolf
Here is a sampling of some of the published exhortations to the troops in Texas in April and May 1865.

Jo. O. Shelby, Brigadier General Commanding, Pittsburg, Texas, April 26, 1865, reported in the Galveston Daily News of May 13, 1865:

If Johnston follows Lee, and Beauregard and Maury and Forrest all go and the Cis-Mississippi Department surrender their arms and quit the contest, let us never surrender. … The Missouri Division surrender – My God! Soldiers! It is more terrible than death.

John P. Major, Brigadier General Commanding, Major’s Division, Walker’s Cavalry Corps, May 15th, 1865, in the May 20th Galveston Daily News:

If every soldier East of the Mississippi is surrendered, and every city, town and village occupied, we will not give up the fight, but unfurl our glorious banner to the breeze, we will send a shout of defiance to our hated foe.

Public Meeting at LaGrange, Texas, April 29th, 1865, reported in the Galveston Daily News of May 6, 1865:

…we do solemnly and irrevocably declare … that under no possible circumstances will we ever submit to re-union, or reconstruction with the Yankee nation, or live under them as a subjugated people. … our motto shall be “Fight it out, fight on, fight ever, fight everywhere”; and when the proper time comes, as it soon will, let every hill valley and prairie – every gulley, thicket and bottom – be a battle ground from which to hurl death upon our detested foes; and then let us welcome the canopy of Heaven for our tents, and parched corn, jerked beef, or wild game for our rations. Welcome poverty, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, fatigue! Welcome all privations – DEATH ITSELF – if necessary to secure the freedom of our country…

J. Bankhead Magruder, Major General Commanding, Headquarters District of Texas, Houston, May 10, 1865, reported in the May 12, 1865, Galveston Daily News:

Once more I say, let us be united, determined and defiant. Our President is doubtless on his way to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Flag of the Confederacy will be kept proudly flying. Brave men from every Confederate State will rally to its support and swell your ranks.

74 posted on 06/28/2004 10:28:44 AM PDT by rustbucket
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To: rustbucket

Thanks for quotes Rustbucket.

Even at this late date in the war you can "hear" the determination to go on and not give up.


78 posted on 06/28/2004 11:07:46 AM PDT by SAMWolf (It's been lovely, but I have to scream now.)
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